Distortion

As London’s independent businesses are gearing up to reopen their doors, we are busy building our creative network to support them. Are you starting out as a photographer and looking into doing more food and product photography? Join Distortion.

If all goes well, life in London will return to some sort of normality in a 100 days, but are we ready? It seems like our to do list of positive changes to make is getting longer every day.

Let’s use the coming 100 days to not only think about the kind of city we want to live in, but also start with small acts of change.

London has changed quite a bit over the last year, hasn’t it? We’re all getting ready to go back to normal, and a lot of us could definitely use some support.

Are you an aspiring writer, photographer, illustrator, journalist, graphic designer, filmmaker or something else in the creative field? We are looking for Londoners looking to take their first steps in their creative careers!

Distortion is a community of London based creatives who find themselves stuck being underemployed (shout out to all the bartenders, baristas and retail workers out there!) helping independent businesses (think hospitality, retail, arts and culture) get ready for a post-Covid and post-Brexit London.

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Annabelle Byrne is a Walthamstow based artist who spends half her time behind the bar and every waking moment building Shiver: the online art gallery with the aim to champion young emerging artists and strip the art world of its elitist rules.

Shiver: the online gallery making art available to all - DISTORTION Introducing Shiver. The online art gallery with the aim to champion young emerging artists and strip the art world of its elitist rules.

After a month of eating and drinking at your favourite places, the Eat Out To Help Out scheme has come to and end for a lot of independent places that can’t afford to keep giving weekday discounts. Of course we still have the obvious ways of supporting independent business by visiting them regardless of half priced meals, leaving a tip and avoiding chains, but not all of us have the means to do so. How about writing reviews about your favourite places on their pages or sharing the love on your own socials? Show us your favourite places in London and tag them with and , and we will help spread the word.

Ethically sourced, sustainable and vegan apparel, designed by a carefully curated collection of designers. That is Elsewhere Clothing Co for you. A stack of old notebooks found under Jay Reid’s bed on a boring day during lockdown made him pick up where he left off nine years ago, with him launching his first collection of apparel and accessories this weekend.

From an old stack of notebooks to a collection of apparel: Elsewhere Clothing Co. Ethically sourced, sustainable and vegan apparel, designed by a carefully curated collection of designers. That is Elsewhere Clothing Co. for you. A stack of old notebooks found under Jay Reid’s bed turned an old dream into reality.

“I’m a creative, but right now I’m a bartender.” It’s at the very core of Distortion’s mission to get London’s hidden creative talent seen. While most of us are still in the middle of this collective daily struggle, some have managed to escape. Giles Bidder’s 101 Part Time Jobs Podcast focuses on the side jobs musicians and artists have had to make ends meet between touring and recording, and quite frankly, it’s capable of even giving those with minimum wage hospitality jobs hope.

Making ends meet as a creative with 101 Part Time Jobs - DISTORTION Giles Bidder's podcast 101 Part Time Jobs focuses on the side jobs musicians and artists have had to make ends meet between touring and recording, and it's capable of even giving those with minimum wage hospitality jobs hope.

[independent business shout out] The Laughing Heart
“One of the best restaurants in London. Excellent food, great wine, ace staff and the owner is super friendly... It is also open till late!” - Gabs Bertucci of What's In The Glass?

[independent business shout out] Renegade Urban Winery
“Independent urban winery, shop and wine bar in the heart of East London. Since 2016, Warwick and the team are running an awesome little wine gem in the middle of the East End.” - Gabs Bertucci of What's In The Glass?

[independent business shout out] Brave Sir Robin
“A North London top boozer! Brave Sir Robin is an independent craft beer pub with 19 taps in rotation. Great cocktails, awesome vibes and top food!” - Gabs Bertucci of What's In The Glass?

After months of drinking solo in your bedroom while doing pub quizzes on Zoom, socially distant drinks in your front garden and overflowing parks, it’s finally time to set foot in our favourite pubs again. But to make sure you feel comfortable going to your local, the people on the other side of the bar have carefully considered how to keep you safe. Turning the Tide is a new documentary series by What's In The Glass? focusing on how the ‘new normal’ has shaped 2020’s experience of something that seemed so simple in the past: getting a drink.

The dreaded words ‘new normal’: how London’s pubs are Turning the Tide Turning the Tide is a new documentary, focusing on how the ‘new normal’ has shaped 2020’s experience of going to the pub after lockdown forced closure.

Hi, how are you? It’s a simple question that could spark a million answers. After a long period of isolation, we’re all returning to some version of life, and part of it is up to us to decide what that looks like.

Did four months of reflection make you rethink your life? The things you love or hate? The things you care about? Did it spark your sense of purpose or drive you into a deep existential crisis? How are you making sure you’re not falling back into the same patterns?

Distortion is a creative community for those trying to figure out what they want from life. A non-pretentious, no filter and brutally honest collection of Londoners trying to figure out where they belong. Because you’re not alone.